Cotton rolling machine and method of making cotton absorbent rolls



April 14,1936. D, HEYER 2,037,233

COTTON ROLLING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING COTTON ABSORBENT ROLLS Filed April 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l I8 33 I 4- 1?, J. I az as 73 so I00 INVENTOR.

April 14, 1936. D HEYER 2,037,233

COTTON ROLLING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING COTTON ABSORBENT ROLLS I Filed April 22, 1933- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 1936. D. HEYER 2,037,233

COTTON ROLLING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING COTTON ABSORBENT ROLLS Filed April 22, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 3/ 3O Z7 Z5 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COTTON ROLLING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING COTTON ABSORBENT ROLLS California Application April 22, 1933, Serial No. 667,380

10 Claims. (Cl. 19-149) This invention relates to the manufacture of rolls formed of absorbent cotton. Such rolls are now commonly used in connection with dental and medical practice. For example, such rolls may be used in small pieces as wads for absorbing moisture placed between the gums and the lips of a patient; or for analogous uses in medical operations.

Such cotton rolls have been largely manufactured by tedious and expensive hand process; and it is one of the objects of this invention to make it possible to produce such absorbent rolls by the aid of machinery.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to adjust such a machine for making a wide range of sizes of such rolls.

Still another object of the invention'is the provision of a machine for rolling, coating, drying and cutting the roll to size and delivering the roll in a finished state.

It is a further object of the invention to make it possible to produce such cotton absorbent rolls at low cost.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying and fgitn ingj part'ofthe present specification. I shall nowjo'rdceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the ,jgeneral principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be takenin a limit-.

ing sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims. I

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view'of one form ofmyi'in I vention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig.- 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, looking at the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the paste applicator and tank;

Fig. 5 is a view of the paste applicator;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rolls and cam arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a top elevation showing the feed rolls and mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the various mechanisms;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line I-I of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the sliding clutch col lar; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatical figure illustrating the path of the cotton material from the sheet stock through the rolling process to the cut and finished size.

The raw material for the manufacture of the absorbent rolls can be in the form of cotton 5 sheet stock.I28 (Fig. 11) wound in the form of a large roll and mounted on a shaft I29 ;(Figs.

1 and 11). This shaft is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as being supported on a-pair of pivot points I 3| and I32, which in turn are supported in stand- 10 ards I33 mounted on the main frame I0 of the machine. One of these pivot pins such as I32 can be provided with a handle I30 and can be threaded in the standard I33 for making it possible to retract the pin I32 for the removal of 15 shaft I29 between the pivot supports.

The sheet stock I28 can be oi any standard width'and thickness. Lengths of the sheet stock I28 can be readily separated from the source of supply without the necessity of cutting it, as the cotton fibers of such stock usually extend longitudinallyof the. sheet and therefore can readily be pulled apart. This faculty of the stock is made use of for feeding definite lengths of the sheet stock into the machine for subsequent treatment therein.

To accomplish this result the sheet. stock I28 is fed between two feed rollers I00 and 0' (Figs. 1, '7 and 11). These feed rollers I09, IIO are driven in opposite directions as indicated in Fig. 30 11. One of these rollers such as feed roller IIO, can be grooved, and the other roller I09 can be smooth; and these two feed rollers are placed close enough together as to grip the sheet stock I28 between them. The grooving on feed roller I I0 serves to grip the sheet stock securely and n avoids slipping. A definite length of stock (which length may be varied by appropriate adjustment as hereinafter described) is'fed intermittently by causing intermittent actuation of the feed rollers I09 and II 0. Between the periods of actuation these fe ed rollers are maintained stationary gripping the sheet stock firmly and permitting that part of thesheet stock which has been fed between the feed rollers to be separated by a pulling action. This pulling action is accomplished by continuously driven supplementary feed rollers I24 and I25 (Figs. 7 and'11).

There will nowbe described theintermittent '5 driving mechanism for the feed rollers. I09- I and. H0.

1 Both of these feed rollers I09 and. I I0 are ro -tatably mounted in a portion ofv the main frame H l0 and may be connected together for simultaneous operation. For example, each of the feed roller shafts may carry interengaging pinions I I I, 2 (Fig. 7), at the other end of the shaft. The shaft I34 of roller I09 (Figs. 7 and 9) projects from the main frame I0, and is arranged to be intermittently driven by the aid of a sprocket 24.

This sprocket 24 iscontinuously driven through a I transmission mechanism to be hereinafter described. The intermittent clutching between sprocket 24 and shaft I34 can best be explained in connection with Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Thus sprocket 24 carries an integral flange I35 and is furthermore mounted for rotation on a stud I36 fastened into the end of shaft I34. This stud I36 has a conical surface 3 adapted to engage a corresponding conical depression in the left hand side of sprocket 24. It may be urged into frictional driving'contact with conical surface ||3 by urging flange I35 toward the left. For this purpose a collar H5 is keyed to shaft I34. This collar is urged toward engaging position with a friction ring 4 supported on the righthand side of the flange I35, by the aid of a compression spring H6. When so urged into frictional engagement it is apparent that sprocket 24 drives shaft I34 by the frictionthat exists between members i|4and 5 as well as by the friction between sprocket 24 and conical surface 3. These parts thus form a friction clutch. If desired a serrated tooth clutch could be used for this same purpose.

However, during a portion of the time, collar I I5 is held out of engagement; as indicated in Fig. 9 as by the aid of a shift fork II8. This shift fork engages the diametrically opposite pins I IId, ||'Ibprojecting from a shift collar I31 mounted in a groove in collar 5.

Shift fork H8 is pivoted on a bracket I20 and has an arm carrying a cam roller -|,I9. Spring 6 acts to supply a force for holdingthis roller II! against the active surface of a cam disc I2I. This cam |2I is mounted on the end of a shaft 4| journalled in the main frame I0. In order to hold the cam I2| detachably against a shoulder on shaft 4| use is made of a nut I23 engaging a threaded extension of shaft 4|. Cam I 2| has a depressed surface I22, and for each revolution of shaft 4| roller I I9 is permitted to move inwardly while it passes over this depressed portion, permitting spring 6 to place sprocket 24 into driving relation with roller I09. It is apparent that the amount of angular motion of feed roller I09 is thus dependent upon the angular extent of depressed portion I22. By having a number of interchangeable cams I2I provided with depressions I22 of different angular extent the amount of sheet stock I28 intermittently fed between rollers I 09 and 0 can be' controlled, whereby the diameters of the finished absorbent rolls is controllable.

Sprocket 24 as shown in this instance is engaged by a chain 22, which also acts to drive other parts of the mechanism to be hereinafter referred to. Chain 22 is driven, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by the aid of a sprocket 2i mounted on a shaft l8 appropriately supported in hearings on main frame I0. Shaft I8 in turn is driven by the aid of a pulley I! connected as by a flexible belt I6 to a driving pulley I5. Driving pulley I5 is driven from a shaft I38 upon which is mounted a pulley I4 connected as by a flexible belt I3 to a pulley I2 mounted on a shaft of electhe motor II.

transmission is secured for operating the shaft of feed roller I08.

If desired, an idler sprocket 23- (Figs. 1 and 2) can be provided'for properly tensioning driving chain 22.

As soon as rollers I05 and I I0 are stopped from rotating by roller 3 rising out of the depression I22 the sheet stock I28 is torn or separated at the bite of the rollers I09 and 0 by virtue of the fact that the rollers I24 and I25 continue to grip and pull the sheet stock. These rollers EM and. I25 are continuously rotated, and one of them,- such as I24 (Fig. 7), may be grooved to produce proper frictional drive between these rollers and the sheet stock. Rotation is secured for these rollers by the aid of a sprocket 25 engaged by the sprocket chain 22, the two rollers being joined together for simultaneous rotation by the aid of the small gears I26 and I21.

The length of sheet stock so separated is fed between a series of rollers 6|, 63, (Figs. 8 and 11). These rollers, as indicated in these figures, all rotate in the same direction. The sheet stock is rolled in the substantially triangular space defined within the peripheries of these rollers, and is rolled into the desired roll form.

Rollers 63 and 65 are respectively supported on shafts 62 and 64. These shafts are mounted for rotation in suitable brackets 63a and 6322 (Fig. 1). Furthermore, these two rollers derive their power from sprocket chain 22, which passes over sprockets 26 and 21 respectively connected to shafts 62 and 64; It is thus apparent that the winding rollers 63 and 65 are continually driven for winding up the sheet stock into the desired cylindrical form.

The third winding roller 6| is preferably rubber covered and is also continuously driven, and is mounted on a shaft 60. However, this roller is so arranged that it may be swung away from cooperative relation with the other two winding rollers 63 and 65, in order to permit the wound sheet stock to drop out from the space between the rollers. The manner in which roller 6| is mounted and rotated will now be described.

Thus shaft I8, which is driven by motor II, as heretofore described, carries a sprocket 28 driving the chain 29 (Figs. 3 and 6) which serves to impart rotation to sprocket 3| mounted on shaft 60 of roller 6|. An idler sprocket 30 serves to hold the chain 29 in proper tension.

Shaft 60 is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 58 and 59. These bearings are formed near the ends of the oscillatable arms 56 and 51 mounted for oscillation coaxially with shaft I8. At predetermined intervals arms 56 and 51 are swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, or in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11, to cause the rolled cotton product to drop from between the winding rollers. This intermittent oscillation of arms 56 and 51 is secured by a mechanism now to be described.

Thus there is a transverse bar 55 (Figs. 6 and 8) connecting the two arms 56 and 51. Fastened at the central portion of this transverse bar is a lever arm 54. A link 53 connects the arm 54 with a lever arm 52. The link 53 and lever arm 52 can be mutually adjusted to control the extent of throw as by providing a series of optional pivots in arms 52 for link 53. y 1

This arm 52 is formed as an extension of a lever 45 fastened to a shaft 46 appropriately supported in hearings on the main frame I0. 8 In order to rock arm 45 intermittently to pull the arms 56 and 51 to the dotted line position of Fig.

8, lever 45 has a left hand extension adapted to be urged downwardly by a cam 44 mounted on shaft 4|. This shaft 4|, as heretofore described, alsocarries the feed roller control cam I2I, and it derives its rotation at a greatly reduced speed through the following transmission mechanism: shaft I8 carries a sprocket 32 (Figs. 1 and 3). This sprocket 32 in turn operates the sprocket 34 mounted on shaft 35 through chain 33. On this shaft is rigidly mounted a sprocket wheel 38 driving a chain 39 in driving relation with the sprocket 48 mounted on shaft 4|. The ratio of reduction is such that ample time is given for the rolling operation prior to the severing of a succeeding length of sheet stock. 'Shaf-t 4|, as indicated in Fig. 7 can be appropriately supported in bearing standards 42 and 43.

As the cam 44 strikes the lifter lever 45, the shaft 46 is oscillated in its bearings 41, 48.

The lever 45 has a right hand extension connected to a tension spring 49, the other end of which is secured to a bracket 58. The spring 49 retains the lifter lever 45 always in proper relation to cam 44. An adjustable abutment, such as a screw 5|, limits the return of the lifter 45.

The next operation in the manufacture of the cotton rolls is the application of an adhesive to the outer surface of the roll so that it will retain its rolled shape. This adhesive can be in the form of a thin substantially nonvisoous liquid which hardens upon drying.

For applying this adhesive to the cotton roll use is made of an adhesive applying roller 82 (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11). This adhesive roller is appropriately mounted on shaft'69 in standards fixed to main frame I8. Shaft 69 can be appropriately driven from shaft 4| as by the aid of a sprocket 66 (Figs. 3 and 7) mounted on shaft 4|. This sprocket in turn operates chain 61 which rotates sprocket 68 mounted on a shaft 13. On shaft 13 there is a sprocket 18 which drives chain 1|. This chain 1| drives the sprocket 12 mounted on shaft 59.

In order to apply the paste or adhesive to the periphery of the roller 82, use is made of a brush or applicator 88 mounted upon a rotatable shaft 11 (Fig. 4). Shaft 11 is supported in the appropriate bearing standard 18 and 19. As shaft 11 rotates, the applicator 88 successively dips'into an adhesive carried in a pan or tank 8|, and contacts with the periphery of roller 82. Rotation is imparted to shaft 11 by way of a chain 15 connecting sprockets 14 and 18 respectively mounted on shafts 69 and 11.

The roller absorbent, dropping from between the winding rollers is'held in contact with the periphery of roller 82 by the aid of a supplemental roller 83 mounted on shaft 13. After substantially one revolution of roller 82, the adhesive coated roll is permitted to drop into a groove 84 located in the periphery of roller 83, thus serving to extract the adhesive coated roll from between the bite of the adhesive coated rollers 82 and 83. The relative angular positions of the rollers 82 and 83 are such in relation to the dropping of the rolled cotton that groove 84 will not pick up the coated cotton roll until after substantially one revolution has occurred of roller 82. This is accomplished by causing'the absorbent roll to drop just behind the slot 84.

The extractor roller 83 carries the coated roll in groove 84 to a position to be cut into the desired lengths. For this purpose roller 83 is preferably made in two sections. As illustrated in Fig. 1, it permits the entry between them of the rotary dividing knife 86, andtrimmer knives 8.5 and 81. These knives 85, 86, and 81 are mounted for rotation on a shaft 88 and serve to out the absorbent roll in the center and to trim the ends. Shaft 88 is mounted for rotation in bearing structures 89 and 98 and is driven'at high speed by the aid of a grooved pulley 9| (Fig. 2) and a belt 92 is directly driven from the double grooved pulley I2 mounted on the shaft of motor II, said belt engaging the groove nearest the motor.

It is apparent that the rotary knives 85, 88 and 81 are in position to extend inwardly beyond the groove 84 to cut the absorbent roll to the desired length. The absorbent roll in its severed condition is guided still further along in groove 84 and is dropped onto a moving conveyor belt 93.

This conveyor belt 93 is driven by the aid of a roller 94. This roller is mounted on a shaft 95 which revolves in the bearing structure 96 and 91. Rotation is imparted to shaft 95 as by the aid of a sprocket 98 which is driven by a chain 89 and sprocket I 88 joined to shaft 13. The opposite end of the conveyor belt 93 is supported and guided in proper driving relation by an idler roller |8| on shaft I82 supported by bearing structures I83 and I84.-

While the cotton rolls are being transported toward a discharging guide I88 they are subjected to a drying action. For this purpose there is an electric blower and drier I85 (Figs. 2, 3 and 11) This drier is mounted on frame I86 secured to the main frame III. The electric heating coils I81 for the drier I85 are illustrated in Fig. 2. Air is forced over the coils I81 and issues out of the discharge end as hot air to the belt 93. As the absorbent rolls slowly pass under the drier I85, they are rapidly dried and continue to the discharge guide I88, whence they drop into any suitable container.

A short-resume of the operation of the machine will now be set forth. The feed rollers I89 and I I8 hold the sheet stock at intermittent intervals whereby the sheet stock is drawn over the supplemental feed rollers I24 and' I25, at the bite of the rollers I89 and H8. The separated cotton sheet is fed between the winding rollers 6|, 63

and 65. The winding roller 6| moves outwardly into the groove 84 and is passeda'gainst the rotatable knives 85, 86 and 81. After the cutting operation the severed rolls drop onto the moving conductor 93 and are acted upon by a blast of I warmed air passing fromthe drier I85. They are finally discharged upon the guide I88.

I claim:

1. In mechanism for making rolls of absorbent material, means for severing a definite length of the material from a source of supply, means for rolling said length into a roll, said means including a plurality of rollers, means for releasing the rolled length from between said rollers, an adhesive applying roller onto which the rolled length is delivered, a cutter for trimming the rolled length to a desired length, and means for feeding the adhesive treated rolled length to the cutter.

2. In mechanism for making rolls of absorbent material, means for severing a definite length of the material from a source of supply, means for rolling said length into a roll, said means including a plurality of rollers, means for releasing the rolled length from between said rollers, an adhesive applying roller onto which the rolled length is delivered, a cutter for trimming the rolled roller.

leng'th to a desired length, and means for reeding the adhesive treated rolled length to the cutter, comprising a roller having a longitudinal peripheral groove into which said rolled length is received, said grooved roller being sectional to permit the entry oi! the .cutter between the sections.

a. The combination as set forth in claim 2,

with the addition-oi a conveyor onto which the cut rolled length" is deposited byJthe grooved 4. In mechanism for making rolls of absorbent material, meansfor severing a definite length of the material from a source of supply, means for rolling said lengthinto a roll,-' said means including a plurality of rollers, and means for releasing the rolled length from. between said rollers, comprising a swinging support for-one of the rolling rollers, a; link connected to said support, and a cam for intermittently actuating said link.

5. In mechanism for making rolls of absorbent material, means tor severing a definite length of the material from a source or supply, means for rolling said length into a roll, said means including a plurality oi rollers, means for releasing the rolled length from between said rollers, a gang of disc cutters,- and means for moving the rolled length to the cutters for cutting it into a number ofshorter rolled material.

6; In a machine for making absorbent rolls from a supply of absorbent material, means for mounting a continuous supply of material, a pair of feed rollers, means for continuously rotating said feed rollers, a second pair of rollers engaging said material between said supply and said continuously operating feed rollers, means for intermittently rotating said second pair of rollers at the same speed as the said feed rollers. for a predetermined length of time and then stopping the same, whereby a predetermined length of material is fed from said supply and torn therefrom by a force exerted'in the direction of feeding of said material, a plurality of rolling rollers disposed to receive material from said feed rollers and rotatable about axes transverse to the material,

lengths of material and ror'rolling the material' upon itself, pasting means disposed to receive said rolled material from. said roller means and for applying pasting material thereto, including a pair of pasting rolls, and means for rotating said pasting rolls in, the same direction relative toeach other.

8. In a device for making rolls oi absorbent means for tearing predetermined lengths of material from a sheet of material, rolls means for receiving said predetermined lengths of material and for rolling the material upon itself, pasting means disposed. to receive said rolled material from said roller means and for applying material thereto, including a pair of pasting rolls, and means for rotating saidpasting rolls in the same direction relative to each other, one of said pasting rolls having a radially extending depression therein for receiving said pasted roll'of material and for ejecting the same from said pasting rollers.

9. In a device for making rolls of absorbent material, means for tearing a predetermined lengthof sheet material from a supply of material, rolling means for rolling said predetermined length of material upon itself, means for moving said roll of rolledmaterial in a direction transverse to the axis of said rolled material, a plurality of knives disposed inspaced relation in I the direction of the axis of said rolled material for engaging said material and for cutting the same into predetermined lengths.

10. In a-device for making rolls of absorbent material, means for tearing a predetermined length of material from a sheet of material, rolling means for rolling each length of material upon itself, means for applying paste to said roll of material including a pasting roller having a radially extending depression formed therein for receiving said rolled material and for transporting the same in a direction transverse to the axis of said rolled material, a plurality of knives disposed relative to each other in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of'said rolled material, and means mounting said knives for engaging said material while in said depression for cutting 'said material into predetermined lengths.

DON HEYER. 

